Archive for the ‘Mizu’ Category

A few years ago I added an important¬†form of documentation to the categorization of my work. I put together a 3″ thick binder, in chronological order, of all the work I have made since 1998. Initially resistant to the idea as I already have a website and hardcopy portfolio; the reasoning behind this was posterity. So when archaeologists are digging through my house in 2500 they will know why I made this work and what it entailed. Yea, I know, a big stretch. ¬†All the same it is good information to have especially laid out in chronological order.

So I was a tad¬†astonished today, while looking¬†at my documentation¬†binder to find¬†a¬†small work finished since 2013 to enter in the local arts center member show, that I only had two pieces that qualified and one of them I showed there last year. The remaining piece is the other half of the diptych and even though looks slightly different I am certain there would be outrage that I showed the ‘same work’ there two years in a row!

I was also surprised¬†that in 2015 I have completed just four large pieces of work. Throwback to 2009 when I made over 60 pieces in one year. It seems I have slowed down a bit in the past 6 years! Of course I have all kinds of reasonable excuses; both knees replaced, my father’s death, and a year plus of chronic debilitation, so that is understandable. I also have been engrossed in the 3 year collaboration, so the four pieces I made this year were for that. And there are all big ones!

It really is somewhat of a personal accomplishment that I have slowed down production so much. I’d been so prolific in the past in comparison. Maybe just maybe I am living life more presently¬†and making art differently as well. Before my work was fairly spontaneous whereas now it requires a lot of research and introspection before even drafting the design.

Mizu in dog friendly, fancy hotel dining room

And then there are the additional procrastination modes: the¬†aforementioned rescue pooch who is both delight and terror barks at anything that stands still, or in hubs’ case exhales. My days are full of interruptions to calm the dog, to work towards ending her fear aggression. It is exhausting and yet somehow I get the message that maybe this is the point. The point is to get me to stop, breathe, stay in the moment, and chill.

And by¬†default I am the tech guru in the family. So a new modem-router threw everything connected to it out of whack. I have managed to reconfigure a few things but still have daily technology reconfiguration headaches. I’d much prefer to sit back with my crazy pooch and toss bonbons than try to reprogram the solar panel connector or the Netflix device that won’t allow me to sign in.

In a perfect world¬†someone would¬†come in with a magic wand, make everything work and calm the dog in their¬†wake. Yea‚Ä¶and I believe in the tooth fairy¬†too.

As if I weren’t finding enough reasons of my own to avoid the studio lately, this week I came up with a new one! We just¬†rescued a 7 yr old Jack Russell Terrier mix from the animal shelter. My daughter, the¬†dog whisperer and ‘mother’ to two Doxie rescues was hot on the trail of another pooch for us to rescue since we lost our beloved Millie in July. We weren’t sure we were ready yet¬†as¬†there is something to be said for no canine responsibility. Finally I decided we should ‘just go look’ at two dogs. We never made it to the second shelter.

My big criteria this time was a smaller dog as handling an 85# dog is no longer my preference. As tall folk we have often laughed at big people walking small dogs. If I have learned nothing in this¬†life, it is that which provokes¬†the most judgment in me frequently comes back as my reality!

So my days right now are immersed in housebreaking, training, cuddling and walking. It really is not a bad life once one surrenders to it! Possibly the side benefit is I am already spending less time on my electronic devices and more time just chillin’ . Me on relax is a whole new social experiment! Mizu is already having a good influence on me.

As we learned with Millie, when we rescue dogs they rescue us right back.